an extensive parish in the hundred of Overs, comprises the chapelry of Middleton, and the townships or Cleeton, Henley, Hill-upon-Cot, and Snitton, which together contain 5,718 acres of land; of which 197 acres are woods, plantations and public roads, and 26 acres in common lands. Rateable value, £6,494. 10s. 10d. At the census of 1801 there were 1,083 inhabitants; 1831, 1,194; 1841, 1,098; at the latter period there were 191 houses. The soil is mostly strong and fertile. On the summit of the Clee hill are vestiges of a Roman encampment; the prospect from this lofty eminence is most extensive and delightful; coal and ironstone are found in abundance, but the mines at present are but little worked. On the lofty height of Titterstone hill a stately and elegant pillar has been erected to the memory of the late Duke of Sutherland. Sir William E. R. Broughton, Bart., is a considerable proprietor of land, and lord of the manor. Sir Charles Corley, Rev. Charles Walcot, Mr. P. Jones, Captain Horton and others are also landowners. Bitterley Court is a good residence, delightfully situated at the foot of the range of Clee hills. The Kington Canal intersects the parish. The houses in Bitterley are scattered, but pleasantly situated four miles north-east by east from Ludlow. The township at the census of 1841 contained 40 houses and 204 inhabitants. The Church, dedicated to St. Mary, stands in a sequestered locality, and consists of nave and chancel, with a tower, in which are three bells. It was rebuilt in 1667, and repaired in 1761. The south transept was built in 1848–9, by subscriptions and a grant from the Church Building Society. The church contains some interesting memorials, some of which are of very elaborate workmanship. Among the families remembered are those of Powys, Pardoe, Rocke, Walcot and others. The living is a rectory, valued in the king’s book at £16. 16s. 3d.; in the patronage and incumbency of the Rev. Charles Walcot, M.A. The tithes are commuted for £740; and there are 88 acres of glebe land.

Charities.—The Free Grammar School was founded by Sir John Newborough in 1711, who bequeathed £400, in trust, to purchase an estate in fee simple for the benefit of the master. The property now belonging to the school consists of 38a. 2r. 20p. of land, which produces a yearly income of £42. Sergeant Powis left £50, which was laid out in the purchase of a rent charge of 50s. per annum, issuing out of certain lands, called “The Hales,” now the property of the Rev. Charles Walcot. This sum, with other monies, is distributed to the poor on St. Thomas’s-day. The poor have 8s. a year, as the interest of £10, left by Richard Page. Ann Shephard, of Middleton, left by her will the sum of £500, which has been invested in government stock; the dividends are distributed on St. Thomas’s-day.

Cleeton is a township in the parish of Bitterley, three miles east from the church, having in 1841 fourteen houses and seventy inhabitants. The Earl of Powis is the principal landowner. Mrs. Lewis, Rev. G. D. Pardoe, and Mr. Crowther are also freeholders.

Henley township in 1841 had six houses and fifty two inhabitants, and is situated two miles south from the church. The Rev. S. J. Knight is the chief landowner.

Middleton is a chapelry and township in the parish of Bitterley, two and a half miles north-east from Ludlow, having 31 houses and 198 souls at the census of 1841. Sir W. E. R. Broughton, Bart., is lord of the manor and owner of the land. The chapel is an ancient structure, built of rubble stone, with a tower of wood. An antique oak screen which divides the nave from the chancel has the date of 1582.

Snitton township lies about two and a half miles east from Ludlow. At the census of 1841 it had 118 houses, chiefly cottages, and 564 inhabitants. The Earl of Powis is the landowner and lord of the manor. A chapel of ease was built here in 1839. The Rev. John Burleigh James, M.A., is the officiating minister.

BITTERLEY DIRECTORY.

Beddoes William, Warthill Farm

Carter John, Astbach Farm

Cross Miss, boarding school proprietor